File-cabinet.



. PATENTED AUG. 1, 1905. H. s. HOPKINS.

v No. 795,979.

FILE CABINET I APPLICATION" FILED FEB. 2,1906- 2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

U I ED STATES PATENT FFIC FILE-CABINET.

Specification of Letters Patent. I

Patented Aug. 1, 19 05.

Application filed February 2,1905. Serial No. 243,887.

To (ti/Z whom it may concern:

, Beit known that LHENRY S.HOPKINS, a citi zen of the United States, residing at Bainbridge, in the county of Chenango and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in File-Cabinets; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to improvements in file-cabinets.

The object of the invention is to provide a cabinet of this character which will occupy but a minimum amount of floor-space and at the same time will hold a maximum number of files.

Another object is to provide a cabinet in which easy'access' may be had to the files contained therein.

A further object is to provide an improved construction of file-holding drawers to be used in the cabinet. f

With the above and other objects in view the invention consists of certain novel features of construction, combination, and arrangement of parts, as will be hereinafter described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l is a front elevation of acabinet constructed in accordance with the invention. Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view of the same. Fig. 3 is a detail view of the upper end of the cabinet and a portion of the file-carrying mechanism,

the front of the cabinet being removed. Fig. 4 is a horizontal sectional view through the lower end of the cabinet. Fig. 5 is an end elevation of one of the drawer-holding cases. Fig. 6 is a detail sectional view through one of the file-holding drawers, and Fig. 7 is a similar view taken at right angles to Fig. 6.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, 1 denotes a cabinet which may be of any suitable shape or design and is here shown as of vertical or upright construction. cabinet 1, near the upper and lower ends of the same, are journaled upper and lower horizontally disposed shafts 2 and 3. On the upper shaft 2, near the opposite sides of the cabinet, is secured a pair of sprocket-wheels 4. On the shaft at the lower end of the cabinet is arranged a pair of similarly-mountedshaft 3 of said wheels.

In the,

pended or connected to the same are a seriesv of rectangularly-shaped oblong file-drawer cases 7, which are spaced apart on said chains, asshown. I The cases 7 may be pivotally connected to the chain in any suitable manner, but are here shown asprovided with suspending-bars 8, the lower ends of which are connected to the ends'of'the cases 7, below the upper edges of the same, the upper ends of said bars 8 being pivotally connected to specially formed links on the sprocketchains 6'. The sprocket-wheels 4 and 5 are of sufiicient size to permit the cases to pass readily from the front to the rear of the cabinet over the upper shaft 2 and under the-lower On the upper outer edges of the cases 7 are hingedly mounted upwardly-projecting panels .9, which are adapted to close the spaces between said cases, whereby the outer or forward stretches of the chain will present the appearance of a solid front. At the'upper end of the cabinet is arranged a pin or other suitable means 10, by which the panels 9 will be swung forwardly to permit the same to readily pass from the front to the rear of the cabinet in turning at the ends of the same. At the lower end of the cabinet is arranged suitable guides 11, whereby the panels will again-be swung to an upright position when passing from the rear to the front at the bottom of the cabinet. The panels are provided on each end with a laterally-projecting pin or lug 9, which is adapted to engage the guides 11 to bring the panels to an upright position. When the cases are being moved or turned downwardly from the top to the bottom of the cabinet, the horizontally-projecting panels will be engaged by a trip-pin 10. and turned upwardly to a vertical position just-before the same come to thedelivery-opening in the cabinet.

In the cases 7 are arranged a series of fileholding drawers 12, each of which preferably consists of a woven-wire rectangularlyshaped basket or receptacle 13, the outer side or end of which is formed solid and preferably of wood, as shown. Said outer solid ends are provided with suitable handles whereby the same may be readily drawn from the cases, which may, if desired, be provided with partition-spaces or pigeonholes to re- 7 ceive said drawers. The drawers 12 may be of any suitable shape and construction to be used in either a vertical or horizontal position, said drawers being here shown as open onone side, whereby when the same are drawn from the case they may be laid flat upon a desk or other suitable support in the form of a tray or basket. The lower side of the hasket has secured thereto feet 14, of rubber or other yielding material,to prevent said drawer from scratching the surface upon which it may be laid.

In the drawers 12, near one end of the same, are arranged posts or pins 15, formed of wire and having their lower ends bent or coiled into engagement with the wire bottom of the basket, as shown, the upper ends of said pins being engaged by the tubular ends of a substantially U-shaped clamping-bar16,the upper end of which. is secured to aspring-wire support 16, Which is connected to the adjacent side or end of the basket, as shown. Papers or files are placed in the basket between index-sheets which are engaged with the pins or posts, after which the tubular ends of the clamping-bars 16 are engaged therewith, thus holding said indexes and papers in place. To further hold the papers contained in said drawers, a spring-arm 17 is secured to one side or end of the basket, said spring-arm being adapted to hold or clamp the papers together in said drawer.

The cabinet 1 is provided on its front side with a delivery-opening 18, which may be of such size and shape as to permit the file-drawers to be readily removed from the cases when the latter are brought opposite said opening, thus permitting any of the drawers to be quickly reached and removed when desired.

From the foregoing description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, the construction and operation of the invention will be readily understood without requiring a more extended explanation.

Various changes in the form, proportion, and the minor details of construction may be resorted to without departing from the principle or sacrificing any of the advantages of this invention.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is l 1. In a file-holder of the character described, thecombination with a cabinet, of pairs of revolubly-mounted sprocket-wheels arranged at the upper and lower ends of the same, endless sprocket-chains arranged on said wheels, file-drawer cases spaced apart and pivotally mounted on said chains, panels hingedly mounted on said cases to cover the spaces between the same, means whereby said panels are folded down when the cases pass between the sprocket-wheels at the top of the case, and means whereby they are again elevated when brought to the front of the cabinet, and fileholding drawers arranged in said cases, substantially as described.

2. In a file-holder of the character described, the combination with a cabinet, of an endless supporting mechanism arranged therein, liledrawer cases, pivotall y suspended on said su pporting mechanism, whereby said cases may be brought opposite a delivery-opening in said cabinet, file-holding drawers arranged in said cases, said drawers consisting of a woven-wire basket having a solid front end, yieldingsupporting-feet arranged on said hasket, file-holding pins or rods arranged in the same, means whereby said pins are held in place and the files held thereon, and a clampingspring adapted to hold said liles in place, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of two subscribing witnesses.

HENRY S. HOPKINS.

\Vitnesses:

H. E. J. HAMMoNn,

WM. A. VAN DORREN. 

